Stimuli-responsive Photoluminescent Copper(I) Halides for Scintillation,
Anticounterfeiting and LED Applications
Abstract
Highly sensitive stimuli-responsive multifunctional luminescent
materials are crucial for applications in optical sensing, high-level
security, and anticounterfeiting. Here, we report two zero-dimensional
(0D) hybrid copper(I) halides, (TEP) 2Cu
2Br 4 and (TEP) 2Cu
4Br 6, which are comprised of isolated
[Cu 2Br 4] 2- and
[Cu 4Br 6] 2-
inorganic cluster units, respectively, separated by TEP
+ (TEP = tetraethylphosphonium) cations. (TEP)
2Cu 2Br 4 and (TEP)
2Cu 4Br 6 demonstrate
ultrabright greenish-white and orange-red emissions, respectively, with
near unity photoluminescence quantum yields. Optical spectroscopy
measurements and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal
that photoemissions of these compounds originate from the formation of
self-trapped excitons (STEs) due to the excited-state distortions in the
copper(I) halide units. Single crystals of both compounds are
radioluminescence (RL) active at room temperature under both X- and
γ-rays exposure. The excellent energy resolution values and light yields
up to 15,800 ph/MeV under 662 keV γ-rays of 137Cs
suggest their potential for scintillation applications. Remarkably,
(TEP) 2Cu 2Br 4 and
(TEP) 2Cu 4Br 6 are
interconvertible through external chemical stimuli or reverse
crystallization. In addition, both compounds demonstrate luminescence
on-off switching upon thermal stimuli. The sensitivity of (TEP)
2Cu 2Br 4 and (TEP)
2Cu 4Br 6 to the
chemical and thermal stimuli coupled with their ultrabright emission
allows their consideration for practical applications such as
solid-state lighting, sensing, information storage, and
anticounterfeiting.